Nathan Aké Issues Rallying Cry To Man City Teammates Ahead of Brighton Clash

Aké Calls on Man City to Respond Strongly After Spurs Loss with Brighton Test Ahead

Dutch defender Nathan Aké has urged his Manchester City teammates to show grit and tactical awareness after their 2–0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday, insisting that the squad must respond quickly as they prepare to face Brighton.

The Dutch defender, who replaced the injured Rayan Aït-Nouri in the first half at the Etihad, acknowledged that Spurs executed their high-pressing game plan to perfection, leaving City struggling to impose their usual rhythm.

“They played very well. They are a very good team with a very good manager,” Aké told mancity.com. “We couldn’t really play out, and that’s one of the main things. Maybe we should have looked more forward and tried to create that way.”

The loss underlined a recurring theme against Spurs, who have now emerged unbeaten in four of their last five visits to the Etihad. For Aké, it was a reminder that City must evolve to meet the challenges posed by aggressive opponents.

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“Fair play to them, but work to do for us,” he admitted. “They pressed us really high and at certain points we tried to play out, but we couldn’t and that made us very uncomfortable. It’s not an easy game to play.”

Aké stressed that the Premier League’s relentless nature means lessons must be absorbed quickly, with no room for complacency.

Reflecting on the contrast between the emphatic opening-day win over Wolves and the setback against Spurs, he said: “It reminds us that the Premier League is very tough, and every day is a fight.

“It doesn’t matter what you did last week, you have to continue into the new week. Every team is top.”

Looking ahead, the defender turned his focus to the upcoming clash with Brighton, urging the squad to regroup and push forward. “We have to work hard again, make sure we get better and prepare for Brighton. We have to go again,” Aké declared.

For City, the message is clear - respond with intensity, adapt to the press, and ensure one defeat doesn’t derail their ambitions.